Federal election 2022: Liberal MP Tony Pasin re-elected in Barker
However, his fourth term will be spent in opposition, holding the Labor government of Anthony Albanese to account.
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Liberal MP Tony Pasin has been re-elected as the Member for Barker, the Murraylands’ representative in Australia’s parliament.
However, he will spend his fourth term on the opposition benches after the Labor Party won enough seats to form government with support from the Greens and/or independent candidates.
Mr Pasin said he looked forward to working with communities across Barker, making them even better places to live, work and raise a family; and to holding incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government to account.
“I am greatly humbled to have been elected for a fourth term,” he said.
“I thank all those who have put their faith in me at the ballot box and have given me the opportunity to continue to deliver for our community.”
He also thanked his family, staff and party volunteers for their support.
Mr Pasin secured 53 per cent of first-preference votes across the electorate despite a crowded field of nine candidates.
Labor polled second, with 20.8%, and the Greens third, with 7.2%.
More voters submitted invalid ballot papers than voted for any one of the other candidates.
On a two-candidate basis, after preferences, Mr Pasin defeated Labor’s Mark Braes 66.7% to 33.3%.
That result was generally in line with long-term trends in Barker, despite the seismic shifts which occurred in many other electorates around the nation and firm campaigning by freedom-minded independents and minor parties locally.
None of the Senate candidates with Murraylands connections – the Nationals’ Lisa Sherry, Labor’s Belinda Owens or the Greens’ Major Sumner – secured enough support to be elected.
- More information on the vote count in Barker: tallyroom.aec.gov.au.
How will a Labor government address the Murraylands’ big issues?
Murray Bridge News’ citizens’ agenda raised a number of issues which will need to be addressed in the aftermath of this election.
Here are some of the top issues chosen by readers, and Labor’s promises in those areas:
- Housing: Labor would help 10,000 first home buyers in regional Australia get deposits together each year, and build 30,000 social and affordable homes over five years
- Health: Labor would reduce the cost of medication on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by $12.50, and make psychiatric tele-health appointments easier to access
- Climate change: Labor would cut Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions more quickly, invest in renewable energy and build a national electric vehicle charging network
- Aged care: Labor would guarantee 24-hour registered nurse coverage in every nursing home, give residents more time with carers each day, give carers a pay rise, and develop nutrition and transparency standards in the industry
- Cost of living: Labor would increase a tax offset for low- and middle-income earners and make childcare cheaper
Labor’s platform did not include significant commitments in the areas of public transport or the government’s COVID-19 response, which are typically state responsibilities.
Read on below for a recap of the vote count.
- More information on Labor’s policies: www.alp.org.au/policies.
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